ABOUT Hav A Sole

Hav A Sole Board of Directors

Rikki Mendias, Executive Director & Founder

As Founder, Rikki has been the driving force behind Hav A Sole and has been involved in every aspect of its development. He is responsible for product collection, domestic distribution, national travel, organizing events and developing strategic partnerships within the community.

As a young boy, Rikki, spent over five years in a shelter so he knows what’s it feels like to go without. His mother, who was struggling to make ends meet, couldn’t afford to buy him a pair of much needed shoes. One day, a former resident spoke at the shelter and afterwards, offered to buy him two pairs of new Vans. Rikki never forgot that women’s kindness or the confidence that came from having a fresh pair of sneakers to where to school. However, due to his early deprivation, Rikki later started collecting sneakers in every style, color and brand imaginable. His sneaker obsession continued until his early thirties, when he was a fashion photographer and found his life felt meaningless to him.

One night Rikki, realizing he had more shoes than he needed decided to give some of his collection away.  The next day he loaded up the back of his car with shoes and drove the streets of Los Angeles, until he found someone who could benefit from a quality pair of shoes. Afterward, he asked the recipient if he could take a before and after photograph which he posted on social media. Friends all over the country were inspired and offered to send their extra shoes to him as well. Thus, Hav A Sole was born and in ten years we have given out over ten thousand pairs of shoes to shelters, at-risk youth and to those in need.

If you were to ask Rikki today what he has learned from Hav A Sole, he will tell you, “I get more from giving a pair of shoes than I ever did from owning hundreds.”

Steve Simon, Advisor

Steve Simon, is the founder of Simon Equity Partners, LLC and has been a managing member since January 2007.  From February 1997 to December 2006, Mr. Simon served as president and chief executive officer of Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc., a privately-held real estate and investment company.  Mr. Simon serves on the board of directors of the Pacers Basketball Corporation, Yes To, Inc. and Coalision, Inc.  Mr. Simon is a director for the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and serves on the boards of the following non-profit organizations; Conscious Alliance and HeadCount.

Steve Simon has played a key role in strategically guiding the Hav A Sole mission since its inception in 2014.

Wendy Adamson, “Mama Sole”, Dedicated Volunteer

Wendy is a mental health professional who has spent over twenty-five years serving individuals struggling with addiction and mental health disorders. In that time, she has provided counseling, facilitated groups and interventions, crisis management and executed treatment planning which has helped countless individuals find a way out of a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Driven by a deeply rooted principal of service to others, Wendy volunteers her time at Hav A Sole not only because her son, Rikki, is the founder, but because she believes that by demonstrating radical kindness to suffering individuals living on the streets, Hav A Sole is making a huge difference in its community. Wendy also has multiple articles in the Huffington Post and two published memoirs, Mother Load and Incorrigible, where she shares her own struggles with addiction, and her ultimate recovery which led to the profound healing within her own family system.

Michael Dolotta, Board Chair

Michael has worked in television commercial casting and production for the past 15 years. Previously Michael was the Program Manager and a classroom teacher for Dramatic Results, an arts-based educational non-profit program for elementary school students in the Long Beach Unified School District. Michael started donating shoes to Hav A Sole years ago and was drawn to the organization because of the profound simplicity of the mission and the way in which the personal connection of the program makes an immediate and tangible difference in the lives of everyone involved. Michael lives in West L.A. with his wife Theo and two children Noah (17) and Bianca (13).

Dana Mason, Treasurer

Dana is a creative and entertainment marketing executive with 20+ years of experience developing and managing integrated marketing campaigns in music and entertainment industries. She has a substantial track record in developing marketing plans, qualitative and quantitative marketing analysis and leading marketing teams to top performance. She launched Marketing Marauder in 2010, a boutique artist and brand management consulting agency that offers clients personalized services including but not limited to strategic project planning and execution, sponsorship development and small business solutions. Notable projects/clients: Magic Lemonade (LA) – Emmy/Grammy Award winning production company | Project 2050 Agency (NYC) | Agency 78 Entertainment Management Firm (LA/NYC) | Lauryn Hill Productions, Inc. (NYC)

Camille Boothe, Secretary

Camille Boothe is passionate about people, so it comes as no surprise she works in a career where she helps organizations attract, retain, develop and support the potential of their people!

With over 20 years of HR/People experience supporting Brands like IMAX, Ralph Lauren, Lululemon and more recently as Chief People Officer for Hodinkee, Camille has found a new purpose in being of service to her community through charitable giving and worthy causes like the Hav A Sole organization. Originally from Jamaica and very humble beginnings, Camille understands the difference a new pair of shoes, socks or even just a conversation can make in a homeless person’s life, as they deal with the many challenges each day can bring.

Alana Weinroth, Board Member

Alana is the Senior Development Officer at Covenant House California, where she supports fundraising efforts including managing an Advisory Board, the Sleep Out movement and all fundraising events. She has served on the team and been an LA since 2017. Prior to her time here, she worked on the Development team at Covenant House International in New York, supporting fundraising for all Covenant House sites nationally. She first got introduced to Covenant House as a Board member while working a job in financial services. After 2 years as a board member, she felt great conviction to quit her job in finance and dedicate her life to serving at-risk, homeless youth. She attended Saint Mary’s College in California and got a degree in Social Justice. She is from the Bay Area, where her family still resides and in her free time she is a part time yoga teacher, host of the Give A Damn podcast, and wellness fanatic.

Brandon Quinn, Board Member

Brandon Quinn is a Product Manager, investor, and entrepreneur with almost two decades of working in the technology industry with experience working at companies like Apple and LinkedIn. Over those two decades Brandon has primarily been based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, outside of living abroad in Shanghai for 3 years were we worked with Apple on improving manufacturing quality systems and ways to improve the retail experience in region with software. As an investor he works with underrepresented founders to invest in and advise them in early start up stages. And as an entrepreneur, Brandon is working on Web3 solutions that empower end users to have more control of their assets. Brandon holds a bachelors degree from University of California, Davis where he played on the football team as a defensive back. As a devout sneaker collector [sneakerhead], Brandon is passionate about giving back to the sneaker community and uplifting communities in need.

Cathi Carlton, Board Member

Cathi began her career as a producer of television commercials in Texas, her home state. She moved to Los Angeles in 1987 and worked for 3 years as staff production manager at PYTKA and fell in love with casting. Cathi Carlton Casting was founded in 1989. During its first 5 years in operation, the casting centered around Cathi’s two great loves – Sports and Real People. CCC has since expanded into a variety of genres, including Comedy, Beauty, and Celebrity – all the while exploring new talent. With a long list of major national campaigns to its credit, CCC leads the commercial casting industry with its keen vision for emerging trends and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.

Chuck Gatchell, Board Member

Chuck Gatchell has worked at NIKE, Inc. for more than 18 years and currently serves as a Global Vice President. He leads Nike’s efforts related to Global Sport Moments and other enterprise sport and purpose initiatives. Prior to his current role, Chuck led teams in various functional areas including strategic planning, innovation, product management, marketing, general management, corporate finance, and sustainability. Chuck’s first Nike role was helping to develop Nike’s public sustainability reports and leading corporate transparency efforts related to labor relations, environmental sustainability, community impact, diversity and inclusion, and government affairs. Prior to Nike, Chuck worked in corporate finance at Ernst & Young LLP in Los Angeles. Chuck holds an undergraduate degree in business management from the University of California, and also holds master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Virginia and public policy from UCLA.

A first-generation college graduate, Chuck co-founded Advance!, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing college awareness, and access for underserved populations, in his hometown of La Habra, California in 2002. He has coached various youth sports, has advised and invested in start-ups, and has served on boards for several non-profits and academic institutions. Chuck spends time away from work with his wife, Melissa, who holds a PhD in Public Health from UCLA, and their four children (Nate, Dylan, Zach, and Charlize). Chuck is currently based in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Desireé LeSassier, Board Member

In October 2022, Desireé LeSassier was named the Director, Business Development of Magic Johnson Enterprises. LeSassier is responsible for managing and directing the corporation’s new business strategy, development, and strategic partnerships. Prior to Magic Johnson Enterprises, LeSassier was the Senior Manager, Player Relations for the Los Angeles Lakers. There she led the team’s mentorship and development initiatives, including innovative team-based programs and experiences focused on off- court growth, individual player management, and resources for the players and their significant influencers.

Before joining the Lakers, LeSassier held two positions with the Los Angeles Dodgers, serving as Manager, Community Relations and Manager, Marketing & Promotions. During her tenure and direct efforts, the Dodgers experienced record growth with visibility in minority communities through the development of what is now a signature program for the organization.

A native of Inglewood, California, LeSassier holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Loyola Marymount University.

Ed Barnett, Board Member

Edward is co-founder of PCF Restaurant Management, and owner of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar in Los Angeles. Edward and his business partner, Karim Webb, were named 2014 California Small Business of the Year, after creating a successful model for opening inner-city restaurants. Their Baldwin Hills location—1 of 3 they own—has had the highest year-over-year growth of any Buffalo Wild Wings location in the country and is still growing. Many businesses shy away from moving into inner-city areas like South Central Los Angeles due to concerns about market viability, vandalism and gangs, but when Ed and Karim were looking for a location for their Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar franchise, they realized it didn’t make sense to look anywhere else.

Jennell Maze, Board Member

Jennell Maze is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her MSW at the University of Southern California. Her professional career has granted her the opportunity to be involved in promoting mental health as it relates to individuals, families and communities. She has provided 15 years of comprehensive outpatient services to children and their families. She is trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Her experience has allowed her to interface with various dynamic settings such Pointe Malibu Substance Abuse Residential Facility and serve for nearly ten years as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work in the Department of Children, Youth, and Families teaching courses in human behavior and the social environment. Jennell is most proud of her role as a Mother to her 7 year old daughter. Her village of support drives her passion to uplift her daughter, self, and others toward a collective culture that strengthens our wellbeing.

Nohán Cruz, Board Member

Nohán is a LA native but hails from Puerto Rican descent. His love for the city is in his veins and in true fashion loves the Dodgers and Lakers to name a few. The players he holds near and dear to his heart are Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier to play baseball and Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality mindset to “Just Be Better”. Nohan has carried the same passion and commitment for sports into his commitment to his community by building investing in our urban youth and being a team player to see others grow and win. Aside from serving his community, his true calling is living life with his amazing boys and beautiful wife. Family is where love, joy and support truly is important in order to share that to others around the world.

 Reliable, Passionate, Innovator, Initiator, Born Leader, Public Speaker/Storyteller, Master of His Craft.

Ryan Lagod, Board Member

Ryan grew up in the Bay Area and basketball was his life through college. After two years a knee injury and honestly his lack of height and depressingly slow first step put him on a different path and he moved to LA after graduation. Ryan was introduced to Hav A Sole while working as a casting associate for Cathi Carlton Casting. His love for basketball brought with it a love for shoes and being able to be part of the Hav A Sole team and provide shoes for those in need is an opportunity he is grateful to have. Ryan lives in Santa Monica with his wife Tiffany and son Maddox. He now runs Lagod Casting, a commercial casting company.